THE NF-W YORKER ing Rights Act of 1965 had not yet been drafted, a powerful case could be made that Mississippi elections had been held in violation of the Fifteenth Amend- ment, which forbids disenfranchisement "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude," and several civil-rights laws already on the books. These steps the Freedom Democrats chose not to take. Thev made no serious effort to get candidates on the Novem- ber ballot and filed no protest against the Governor's issuance of election cer- tificates. Up to a point, their reluctance to proceed as ad vised was understand- able. The federal courts, though they have done a great deal to protect and extend civil rights and liberties, have not been of much assistance to the Negroes in their quest for political equality and power. Moreover, the Freedom Demo- cratic Party had grown out of what was essentially a youth movement, which, lIke most youth movements, preferred political action to litigation. Yet what had been proposed was a combination of the two, with litigation being employed to facilitate political action. Moreover, the course that the Freedom Democrats eventually took involved them with lawyers by the score and in legalistic wrangles that went on until the middle of last month. They chose three of their leaders (Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, Mrs. Annie Devine, and Mrs Victoria Gray) to run against three incumbent congressmen (Jamie L. Whitten, of the Second District; Prentiss Walker, of the Fourth District; and William M Colmer, of the Fifth District) in an extra-legal election held not on No- vember 3rd but over the four preced- ing days. The party "registered" its own voters, polled them, counted the ballots, and declared that the three candidates were entitled to the seats of those whose election Governor Johnson was shortly to certify. The registering and polling places had been sidewalks, shops, churches, and private homes. A rather touching aspect of this affair was that despite the abundant possibilities for what in another setting might have been called fraud, the tallying seems to have been uncommonly scrupulous. (In each of the three "contests," the Freedom Democrats claimed for their candidate a total significantly lower than that recorded for the incumbent in the regular election.) The argument, as it was to be presented here early this year, was that the election conducted on the streets by the Freedom Demo- crats-and recognized by them and by them alone-was more democratic, more Constitutional, and more worthy of respect than the one managed by the 239 Buying Life Insurance? Look at the company behind it Over the past 120 years Mutual Benefit has developed certain "principles of equity" Among these are immedi- ate cash value and first year dividends...broad flexibility .11 _ retroactive benefits... doing right for the policyholder voluntarily. These are some of the reasons why we feel that, dollar for dollar, you cannot match the combination of benefits, safeguards and guarantees-plus performance and serv- ice- that Mutual Benefit gives you. High quality insur- ance at low net cost. For the complete story, write today for our new free brochure, "A Special Kind of Life Insurance" Better yet call your Mutual Benefit agent. MUTUAL BENEFIT LIFE T!:!E MUTUAL B NEFIT LIFE INSURANCE COMPAN NEWARK. NEW JERSEY ,--SINCE 1 84 t i i = .:: :::: ,,q: i.... :"," !t . L "0$ ,i, .>: . .;}' ,;",:,'" ,. ':, : , " ',: j>' '.':, ::::: "":,, V<' 4 <Ii Rosewood. Rosewoodier. Rosewoodiest. One design We just feed some of rosewood) 21" high. 10" shade diam- them more. Mode in Brazil. The base eter-$29.50. 1718 (A little more rose- is staved rosewood. The shade is off- wood) 27" high. II" shade diameter- white Belgian linen. All take three-way $39.50. 1719 (Lotsa rosewood) 32" bulbs up to 250 watts. 1717 (A little high. 13" shade diameter-$52.00. NEW 56 PG CATALOG... ONLY 25c Moil orders and browsers are invited GEORGE KOVACS Dept.N.42 831 Madison Ave. (69th StJ N.Y. 21, N.Y. UN 1-8955 Open Thurs. till 8. r (Jbféåa aJ;úJ Presents LOS CHAVALES de ESPANA Shows 9 & 12 . Also 2 A.M. Sals. 1 Show Sun. 10 P.M. 42 W. 58 . PL 3-3773 J -- r'O E - T . - STEAKS - CHOPS (,.. .TER SEAFOOD :ra S i.. Charcoal Broiled , · D 'u:J . before your eyes. · I ., "'. \, .:.. f,. p Open Every Day 1 .,:17 L ."" -...r DINNER-SUPPER I B cK" R 1'n Dally 4 pm - Mldnlte 1 11 \ -. Sun" Hol from 2 pm '., rAUAAI4 .. - 64 W. 10th St., N. V.C. ;;:: .it .', ,T.. G R 3-4476